Potato marking device



May 2, 1961 I v F. AHLBURG 2,982,203

POTATO MARKING DEVICE Filed Nov. 25, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. F 9 654M Al/[BUAG s y/Mk.

F. AHLBURG POTATO MARKING DEVICE May 2, 1961 Filed Nov. 25, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 mm TH N M 1K M m y 2, 1961 F. AHLBURG 2,982,203

POTATO MARKING DEVICE Filed Nov. 25, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. 6

INVENTOR. 5m NA A HL 5 0/? 6 ATTORNEYS -,Figure- 2 represents a fragmentary n ape;

United States Patent t) a 2,982,203 POTATO DEVICE Frank- Ahlburg, Los Angeles, Calif. EiledNov. 2s, 1955,'Ser. No. 549,009 sclaims. c1. 101-37 sented problems which. have not been overcome prior (an invention. Special inks have been utilized and I have made use of these inks, because potatoes, which are largely grown'injsilty areas, require for their correct marking an ink having special qualities. However, although I haveutilized previously known inks, I have not utilized any other commonly accepted dies, means of supporting the dies or other components of a vegetable marking: machine.

lt is an object of this invention to provide a device which will mark potatoes or other" fruit or vegetables regardless of their size or shape. W It is a further: object of this invention to provide a potato marking device which will handle potatoes of all sizes, and shapes whereby eliminating any need for grading as to size before the potatoes are marked. i

It is a further object of this invention to provide a suitable means for supporting adie or a plurality of dies y 2,982,203 Patented May 2, 1961 mechanismfshow'n generally at 12, a die supporting and carrying mechanism 13, and an inking mechanism 14.

Theframework 10 consists of numerous parts, some of which Willbe' referred to specifically hereinafter, butwhich generallymust be understo'odto be included with in the comprehensive reference to a frame.

Potatoes are adaptedto be positioned uponth conveyor 1 1 at the right-hand side of Figure 1', and-'tobe carried by the conveyor'll generally upwardly and to the left'until they pass over the-endof the conveyor 11 and into engagement withthe diecarrying mechanism 13. The potatoes are then carried away by any suitable mechanism which is not shown, as'for example, a chute. The conveyor mechanism 11 and the die carrying mechanism 13 and'inking mechanism 14 are all driven from a single power source 12.

As indicated in Figures 2 and 3, the conveyor mechanism 11 consists of a plurality of cross shafts 16 which are joined together near their ends by links 17 which thus-form, in effect, a pair of endless chains which support the shafts 16 to form an endless conveyor. On' the shafts 16 I have provided a plurality of tapered tubular members 18 which, as indi'cated, are provided with cylindrical metal cores 19 and resilient rubber outer surfaces 21; The members '18 may be shaped differently but are preferably formed generally as shown and are slidable in sueh a manner that the full surface of each die will I engage the potato which it is intended that it engage.

Itis a further object of this invention to provide a readily changeable form ofdie.

;It is a further objectof this invention to provide an f ink; transfer'mechanism. in which in k may be transferred to dies between each marking.

. It is a further object of. this invention to provide an inkingmechanism which; may be readily changed in a simple manner andhby inexperienced'help and with the minimum of downtime.

I Other objects and advantages of invention will appear frorn thefollowing specification taken in conjunctiongwith the accompanying drawings in which:

1 ,Figure 1 represents a side ,elevational view of the device incorporating my invention; 1 v

' cross-sectional detail taken alongthe line 2-2 of Figure 1; v

I Figure 3. represents a cross-section "l detailtaken along t e nefi g gu e2; i

-Figu re- ,4 represents an enlarged fragmentary view of means for securing; the ink carrying pad to its back in k fisupport, as illustrated in-Figure 3; Y Z

i taken along. the line 55 fEi i 1;? 1,-

Figure 6 is" a view,.sirnilarto Figure Z 'in'which the rubben tire members,aretmounted uponIa single shaft and a-re in pneurn'atie communication with each other; a

longitudinally along the shafts 16, and are'adapted to be cross shaft 27. 'Thec ross shaft '27 is mounted in bearing blocks 27a which are movable longitudinally with respectto the conveyor 11 by means of a lead screw arrangement 28 whereby the tension'of the conveyor 11 may be incr'easedor decreased. As shown, the uppersha ft 26 'is mounted in suitable bearings '29 which are secured to the frame 10 in any suitable manner.

shaft 26 is provided with a pulley 31 which is adaptedto be engagedby a belt 2 which is reaved about 'a 'pulle y' 33, on the shaft of motor 12' whereby the shaft 26'will be driven by motor 12. When the shaft 26'is conveyor 11 is likewisecaused to advance in M which has been previously described. As the 'p moan;

are placed upon the conveyor 1'1','tliey will? automatically; align themselves thereon since each potato will tefid" to find a recess created by four ofthe memberslfl. Be-

tween the points A and .B, the lower side ofthezu-pperf run of the conveyor ll frictio nally engages rails, not; shown, whereby thegshafts 16 are caused to rotate; This rotation of the shafts 16 and members18'is transmitted Figure. 7 isa' cross sectionalviewtaken along the line,

ofzFigure 6 showinga new method ofmountingthe a e i w 59 t firi e the mounting thesarne upon the tiretand is. an enlargeddetail of a'porjtion of Figure 7.

to thepotatoes 23 which are supported therebyandit has been found that this rolling action tends to alignthe; potatoes so that their longitudinal axes are parallelflto the] transverseaxis' offthe eonveyor '11. 'Thus," as the potatoes approach the upper endof the conveyor '11, they are aligned transversely the eofand are spaced a theshafts 1 6 with respect to each'other'.

The links 17 are supported "at-both ends by suitable sprockets 24, the upper of which is carried bycross shaft 26 and the lower of which isbarried-by a one" end' of thep edetermined distance: apart, "because of the of p in constant mesh with a similar gear 42 mounted upon a cross shaft 43. The shaft 43 is carried by the frame and suitable bearings 44, and also carries a toothed gear 46 whose purpose will more fully hereinafter be described. 7 7 f The cross shaft 43 carries the dies and their supporting mechanism. As viewed particularly in Figures land 3, the die supporting mechanism consists of a resilient tubular rubber wheel arrangement 40. The wheel arrangement 40 may comprise a resilient, yieldable, annular tube or toroidal member 40a which may be inounted upon a; cylindrical metal sleeve 47 which is keyed to shaft 43 as showns The member 40a may be provided with generally parallel sidewalls interconnected by a circumferential or peripheral wall having a normally transverse convex surface upon which may be supported a die means including a plurality'of circumferentially spaced dies 48. Each die 48 may be made of a suitable material such as metal or rubber and provided-with selected embossed characters. In the example four dies 48 are shown spaced 90 apart and are carried by a pliant bandor strap 49 of suitable material such as rubher, a fabricor metal. The strap may be held in selected position on the circumferential surface of the member 40a by a pair of parallel spaced, circumferentially extending ribs 51 and 52 which may be formed integral with the circumferential wall of member 4011. The member 40a is provided with an air inlet valve 83 and is normally kept at an air pressure of about five pounds per square inch and thus it will be seen that the same is adapted to be deformed when engaged by a potato 23 generally as shown in Figures 2 and 3, and

that the die 48 which is supported thereby will also come into engagement with the potato 23. Because of the readily deformable characteristics of the member 40a, the die 48 will engage the'potato regardless of the particular plane of the surface at which it engages the potato. The members 40a are positioned onthe shaft 43 in such a manner that the dies 48 are located mid- Way between the longitudinal parallel rows of members 18 so that they will engage the potatoes 23 at approximately the points indicated in Figure 2. A cross frame member 56 supports a plurality of rotatably mounted rollers 57 which'are adjustable toward and away from the side walls ofthe members 40a thereby tending to overcome any deformity which may occur therein and in such a manner that the dies 48 will always be urged upwardly against the ink roller 14 in a manner which will more fully hereinafter be described. By moving the rollers 57 into and out of engagement with the side walls of members 40a the contact of the dies '48 against the member '14 may be controlled; 1

Since the gears 41 and 42 are in constant mesh it is obvious that the dies 48 may be moved to a predeterposition with respect to the advancing potatoes and the conveyor 11 in predetermined time relationship. For example; as viewed in Figure 2, when the potato is directly over the cross shaft 26, the lowermost die is directly over the same and in engagement with a potato. It should be pointed out here that I have provided a plurality of so-called star wheel kickout members 58 which are substantially paddle-shaped and whose purpose is to engage the potato 23 and provide a firm base when the potato is in the marking position illustrated generally in Figures 2 and 3 in such a manner that the potato will not be wedged between adjacent rollers 18.. Moreover the starwheel kickout 58 tends to reject the potato from; the conveyor 11 at the end of the run.

The inking mechanism consists generally of a drum 62:

which is secured to a shaft 63 which is rotatably mounted in bearings on the frame 10. The shaft 63 is adapted to be driven by a gear 64 which is in constant mesh with gear 46 and which is secured to theshaft 63 and which, With-the shaft 63; is adapted to be moved longitudinally in a manner to be presently hereina ter described.

The drum 62 supports a blanket 66 which may be formed of any suitable ink retaining material, such as paper, cardboard, felt, etc., and which constitutes a wick containing ink which will be transferred to the die 48 when the die 48 engages the member 66. The means for securing the wick or blanket 66 to the drum 62 is shown particularly in Figure 4. The drum 62 is provided with a longitudinal trough 67 which is adapted to receive a similarly formed keeper shaft 68. One end of the member 66 is secured to the side wall of the trough 67 in any suitable way as, for example, by means of screws 69, as shown, and the other end is wrapped around the member 62 and placed in the trough'67 generally as shown. The keeper shaft 68 is then placed in the position indicated and retained in that position by the set screw arrangement 71.

As indicated particularly in Figure 2, the shaft 26 supportsan eccentric 72, which through a connecting rod 73 actuates L-shaped crank 74 about point 76. The crank 74 supports a pawl 77 which engages a ratchet wheel 78. The ratchet wheel 78 drives link 79, the remote endof which is secured to a collar 81 on the shaft 63. As the shaft 79 is urged to the right as viewed in Figure 2, it urges the collar 81 into engagement with the hub of the gear 64, thereby urging the gear 64, the shaft 63 and the member 66 to the right so that upon each actuation of the connecting rod 73 a new area of the wick 66 will be presented to the next advancing die 48. In this manner, a fresh inked area is presented to each die, thus assuring fresh inking.

Operation of the device may be briefly described as follows: The wick 66 is inked and is positioned about the drum ,62 in the manner which has previously been described.

The members 40a are inflated to approximately five pounds per square inch pressure and the members 57 are positioned in such a manner that as the members 40a rotate, each die will contact the rotating and laterally driven member 66 in such a manner that the proper quantity of ink will be transferred from the member 66 to the die 48.

A number of potatoes may be placed upon the conveyor 11 and the entire apparatus will be driven by the motor 12. The conveyor 11 will be advanced upward and to the left, as viewed in Figure 1. The lower side of the upper run of the conveyor will engage the rails previously described herein in such a manner that the shafts '16will rotate about their longitudinal axes and the potatoes will likewise be caused to rotate, thus causing the potatoes to be aligned with their longitudinal axes parallel to the transverse axis of the conveyor 11. The potatoes will be carried upwardly until they approach the position illustrated generally in Figure 3. Through the gears 41 and 42, the shaft 43 will likewise be rotated, and because of the timed relationship which will have been established, die 48 will be caused to engage the potato 23 as the same is carried into the position illustrated in Figure 3. Because of the resiliency of the member 40a, the .die will be caused to engage the potato 23 regardless of the particular portion thereof which is presented to the die, and the ink mark will be transmitted thereto. In the meantime, the shaft 73 will have actuated the crank member 74 with the result that the pawl 77 will have engaged the ratchet teeth 78 thereby urging the member 13 to the right, as viewed in Figure 2,'with the result that a new inking surface will be pres'entedto thedie which next engages the same.

Inf the modification illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 it will. be 'noted that the shaft 143 is hollow and that the resilient members are in communication through orifices 141 with the interior of the shaft 143. The shaft 143 is in constant communication with a source of air pressure 144 and the introduction of the air into the shaft devices illustrated in Figure 6 is substantially the same as the previously described mode of operation in connection with the device illustrated in Figure 2.

However, as illustrated in Figure 7, I provide a continuous inking strip 148 which is mounted upon the shaft 163 and which may be withdrawn from within the roller 162 through a slot therein. A cross bar 168 is adapted to be maintained in the slot by means of a bolt 169. It may also be removed by removing the blot 169 in which event a fresh portion of the inking paper may be removed and wound around the cylindrical member 162. I also show, in Figures 7 and 8, an auxiliary method of mounting the dies 48 on the periphery of the resilient member 140. An endless band 171 is provided with slots 172 which are adapted to accommodate a preformed die 48. r

I claim:

1. In a marking machine including an inking roll means, the provision of: a frame means; a plurality of axially spaced, deformable wheel members mounted on the frame means and provided with resilient, yieldable, deformable surfaces extending around the circumference of said wheel members; die means positioned on the deformable surface of each member and movable in a selected path; and means carried by the frame means in the space be-' tween adjacent deformable members for overcoming deformity in said members at a position in their path opposite to the ink roll means to afford pressure contact of the die means with the ink roll means.

2. A marking machine as stated in claim 1 wherein said means between adjacent deformable members include antifriction spacer members in pressure contact with said deformable members.

3. In a marking machine for fruits, vegetables and like articles of irregular shape and size, the combination of: means to support a plurality of discrete articles to be marked; a die supporting means in cooperable relation to each article support means, said die support means including a plurality of axially spaced wheel means under fluid pressure, each wheel means being provided with a deformable circumferential surface; a plurality of die means positioned on said circumferential surface in circumferentially spaced relation, said surface including surface portions extending laterally from said die means, said surface being deformable into concave configuration by an article to be marked whereby said lateral surface portions and said die means are under generally uniform pressure during stamping of said article, said lateral surface portions gripping said article and conforming thereto for limiting relative movement between said article and said die means; an ink roll means cooperable with said die means; and means between adjacent wheel means for overcoming deformity thereof to assure pressure contact of said die means with the ink roll means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 51,774 Adams Dec. 26, 1865 62,104 Witherell Feb.' 12, 1867 223,337 Gmeiner Ian. 6, 1880 1,593,991 Sharp July 27, 1926 1,755,749 Sevigne Apr. 22, 1930 2,055,295 Kessler Sept. 22, 1936 2,211,794 Rohland Aug. 20, 1940 2,417,102 Campbell Mar. 11, 1947 2,424,006 Verrinder July 15, 1947 2,631,535 Mumma Mar. 17, 1953 2,631,536 Riley Mar. 17, 1953 2,659,306 De Lano Nov. 17, 1953 2,661,681 Fenstermaker Dec. 8, 1953 

